Sofa-bed.



.. E. WEIN MANN.

SOFA BED.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. E. WEIN MANN.

SOFA BED.

APPLIoATIoN FILED' JA'N. 5, 1914.

MN. w u; 1, M 5W m z jyf.

I2' ,if

Jael' C L. E. WEIN MANN.

SOFA BBD.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

sfrnfrnsprlrnn'r OFFICE.

LOUISE. WEINM'ANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Patented Deo. 8, 1914.

SOFA-BED.

1,1O,34Q. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application tiled January 5, 1914. Serial No 810,374.

To all 'whomit may concern.' A

Be it known that I, Louis a subject lof the lEmperor of Germany, and aresident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,lhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in VSofa-Beds, ofwhich the following is a. specification. Y

My invention relates to improvements in sofa beds and hasfor its objectthe production of a sofa bed which may be readily and easily convertedfrom a sofa to a bed and vice versa and one which will be durable andeconomical in construction and efcient in use.

Other objectsl will appear hereinafter.

The-invention consists in the combinations a'nd arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

, The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section ofa sofa bed embodying my invention, thesection being taken just inside of one of the end members of the frameof the device, Fig. 2 is un enlarged fragmentarydetail section taken online w--w of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail illustrating theconnection of one end of the sofa back member with the outer sectioniofthe bed bottom, Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device in unfoldedcondition the upper end portion of the frame of the device beingbrokenaway, Fig. 5 is a section taken on line .1f-a: of Fig. 1., Figs. 6 and 7are enlarged fragmentary detail sections taken on lines y-y and z-zrcspecLively of Fig. 1, and Fig. 8

is a top plan view ofthe device in unfolded condition, the frame thereofbeing shown in section.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawingscomprises a frame or body consisting or end members 1 which are lspacedA)art and `rigidly conuected by a rear piece 2 and a front bar 3.Arranged in the frame thus formed is the foldable bed bottom consistingof a plurality of pivotally connected sections 4, 5 and 6, the innermostsection# bein pvotally connected at its rearward en with arms 7 whichare pivoted at 8 to angle irons `9 rigidly 'secured to theinner sides offrame members l. The arrangement is such that, when the bed bottom ismfolded condition,

as shownin full lines in Fig. 1, the upper ends of the members 7willrock rearwardly to permit of the bed bottom section .4 assuming aposition.in close proximity with the frame 'member 2 so as to permit ofa maximum utilization of the space within the frame of the device `forstorage purposes,

as for the mattress or bed clothing arranged wardly being limited intheir forward movement, by engagement of the lower ends thereof withflanges 10, as will be readily understood.

Rigidly connected at 11 with the outer bed bottom section 6 are the freeends of levers 12, the opposite enils of said levers being fulcru'med at13 to the frame members 1, straps or cleats 14being`hprovided at theinner-sides of the framemembers 1 to reinforce the sameV at the pointsof connection therewith of said levers. -With this arrangement in the.unfolding of the bed bottom, the upperend of the section- 6 is engagedand rocked forwardly, the forward rocking being, of course, about thefulcrums 13 of levers 12. In this forward rocking of the section 6, thesections 4@ and 5 lwill be moved therewith and, when vthe section 6reaches a horizontal position, said sections 4 und 5 will be in acorresponding coplanar position. The Section5 is provided with rollers16 adapted, when the bed bottom is unfolded. to rest upon angleirons 17provided uponythe inner sides of the frame members 1 in order to supportsaid bed bottom section in loperative position. Said supporting members17 are comparatively short so that in the rearward or folding movementof the bed bottom, the rollers 16 will move rearwardly-and downwardlyout of qngagement therewith in order to permit of the collapsing orfolding of the bed bottom to the condition shown in full lines in Fio.1.

'The rearward end portion of the section 6 of the bed bottom issupported-in operar;

tive position, when the bedV bottom is unv idly secured at their upperends to the sides of said section, the legs 18 and levers l2 beingrigidly connected at their points of intersection .in order to producea. rigid construction.

Loosely mounted between the frame members 1 is the sofa seat member 19,substantially rectangular in form and suitably upholstered. Said seatmember is provided at its under side with cleats 19 adapted, when theformer is in operative position, to rest upon the upper edges of astorage receptacle or compartment 20 rigidly secured in position in thelower portion of the frame of the device at the front end thereof. Thereceptacle 20 is provided for the storage of bed clothing or otherarticles desired, and the ends thereof are spaced slightly from thecorresponding sides of the frame members 1 in order to permit ofclearance for the va rious levers employed in the construction.

The seat member 19 is provided at its respective ends adjacent therearward end of said member with angle irons 21 rigidly secured thereto.The rearward ends of angle irons 2l are provided with laterallyprojecting pins 22 which engage elongated slots 23 provided in levers24, the front ends of said levers being connected by means of links 25with the angle irons 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. This arrangementpermits of upward rocking of the seat member in order to permit ofaccess being gained to the storage receptacle 20, it being clear thatwith the construction set forth, upon upward pressure upon the forwardend of the seat member, the pins 22 will slide forwardly in slots 23 of`members 24 and the seat member will turn about the points of pivotalconnection thereof with the links 25, the rearward ends of the links 25rock-- ing upwardly in this operation and serving to hold said seatmember in elevated position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The rearward ends of the levers 24 are angular in form and pivotallyconnected at 26 with levers 27 which are fulcrumed at 28 to the innersides of frame members 1. The forward ends of levers 2 4 are pivotallyconnected by means of links 29 and 30 with the legs 18- carried by thebed bottom section 6. Provided upon the 'legs 18 are laterallyprojecting stop pins 30 which limitrearward rocking of the links 30. Thearrangement is such that the seat member will be supported by the levers24 and in the unfolding movement of the bed bottom, said seat memberwill be carried forwardly in a substantially horizontal position andautomatically transferred from its operative position, as shown in fulllines in Fig. 1, to a position resting upon the Hoor at the under sideof the bed bottom, as shown in dotted lines in said figure. Conversely,when the bed bottom 65 is folded, said seat merinber will be carriedupwardly and transferred from its dotted line position in Fig. 1 to itsfull line or operative position. The links 29 and 30 coperate with thelever 24 in this operation to constantly maintain the same in asubstantially horizontal position and hence to maintain the seat member19 in a corresponding position, as above set forth Also arranged betweenthe frame members 1 is the sofa back member 31 which is carried by thesection 6 of the bed bottom. Said back member is movably connected withsaid bed bottom section through the medium of links 32 and 33,corresponding ends of said links being pivotally connected with angleirons 34 which are arranged upon the rearward side of said back memberadjacent the lateral edges thereof. The links 33 are of the splitlinktype, the outer ends of the pivotally connected sections of each of saidlinks being extended as at 35, in Fig. 3, in order to engage against theadjacent portions of the bed bottom section 6 and angle irons 31 toserve as stops in order to hold said links against assuming dead centerpositions and in order to insure the breaking of said links in onedirection. The angle irons 34 are provided with elongated slots 36 forengagement by the links 32 in order to. permit the sliding of thecorresponding ends of said links relative to said angle irons under theinfluence of rods. 37 which are connected at corresponding ends withsaid links 32, the opposite ends of said rods being connected with links29, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Elongated slots 38are provided at the points of pivotal connection ofthe rods 37 with the links 29 in order to permit of slight relativemovement. The links 32 are connected intermediate their ends withcorresponding ends of links 39 which are pivotally connected at theirrearward ends with the angle irons 34. The arrangement is such that, inthe -sliding movement of the lower or rearward ends of links 32 in theslots 36, the forward or upper end of the sofa back will be rockedrearwardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. With thisarrangement then, the upper end of the sofa back will normally assumethe position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. As the bed bottom isunfolded said back member will be carried thereby to a position at theunder side thereof when unfolded. As the bed bottom is unfolded, therods 37 are moved rearwardly causing the upper or forward end of theback member to move to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1.Conversely, as the bed bottom is folded, the rods 37 are moved upwardlycausing the lower ends of links 32 to be slid forwardly in slots 36 inorder to cause the forward or upper edge of said back member to rockrearwardly.

The forward end of the bed bottom`sec tion 6 when in unfolded position,is supported by legs 40 which are pivoted at 41 to angle irons 42vsecured rigidly to the forward or upper edge of back member 31, thesupporting of the bed bottom section being effected indirectly throughsaid back member and links which connect the same with said bed bottomsection. The upper ends of links 40v are provided with forwardlyprojecting pins or lugs 43 which engage notches 44 provided in the frontbar of the bed bottom section 6 when said legs are in operativeposition. Also provided in said bar of section 6 are notches 45, theupper side of said bar being provided with elongated slots 46 whichextend between the notches 44 and 45, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.Coperating with the legs 4() are links 47. The arrangement is such that,when the legs 4Q are moved upwardly, the upper ends thereof will projectthrough the slots 46, the pins 43 being thereby disengaged from thenotches 44. In this upward movement of said legs, the links 47 willoperate to cause the upper ends thereof to be rocked inwardly to engagethe pins 43 with the notches 45, the lower ends of the links 47 engagingelongated slots provided in the legs 40 in order to permit of relativemovement between said parts such as is required in this operation.Hence, with the construction set forth, folding and unfolding of thelegs 40 will be effected by movement of the pivotal points 4l of saidlegs toward and from the bed bottom section 6. This movement of saidpivotal points is secured through the movement of the upper or forwardedge of the back member toward and from the bed bottom section 6 in thefolding and unfolding of the bed bottom, as above described. Thismovement of the back member being effected automatically withthe foldingand unfolding operation of the bed bottom. the folding and unfoldingr ofthe supporting legs 40 will also be automatically effected, thearrangement being such that, when the bed bottom is unfolded, said legswill be racked to operative position, and when the bed bottom is folded,said legs will be rocked upwardly into close engagement and parallelwith the front bar of the section 6 of the bed bottom.

Provided at the upper end of the bed bottom section 6 is a handle 48provided to facilitate the unfolding and folding operation of thedevice. Said handle is preferably of such a length as to permitof theperson operating the device, when unfolding the same, to stand asufficient distance away from the seat member 19 as to avoid beingstruck by the forward edge of the latter when said seat member movesforwardly as is the case in the unfolding operation of the device.

Provided at the front side of the frame of the device immediately' belowthe seat member 19 is a cross piece 49 which serves normally to close ortgaverse the gap which otherWise is left between the frame member 3 andthe seat member. This member 49 is supported by bell crank levers 50which are fulcrumed at 51 to the inner sides of frame members 1. Therearward ends of said bell crank levers are connected by means ofhelical tension springs 52 with the bed bottom section 6, thearrangement being such that, when said bed bottom is in folded condition, said springs will hold the bell crank levers 50 in such a positionas .to adapt the same to support the member 49 in operative ortraversing position. As the bed bottom is unfolded, said springs willcause the forward ends of said bell crank levers to rock downwardly inorder to drop the member 49 to non-traversing position and therebyprovide clearance.for the levers 1'2 and 27. The movement of the member49 is thus controlled automatically by the movement of the bed bottom.The springs 52 in addition to serving as means of operation of levers50, serve also to facilitate the folding and unfolding operation of thebed bottom, the tension of said springs, when the bed bottom is infolded condition, being such as to tend to unfold the bed bottom, andwhen the bed bottom is in unfolded condition, the tension of saidsprings is such as to tend to fold the same.

Provid :l at the upper edge of the frame member 2 is a pivoted leaf 53adapted n0rmally to close the opening or space between said edge of saidmember 2 and the upper edge of the bed bottom section G when the bedbottom is in folded condition. Said leaf 53 is provided at its forwardedge with a depending lip or flange 54 adapted for engagement with theupper edge of bed bottom section in order to releasably lock the same'against unfolding movement, it being required. in the unfolding of thebed bottom to first swing the member 53 upwardly in order to release thesection 6.

A sofa bed of the construction set forth may be readily and easilymanipulated and will be found highly efficient in use.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carryin my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A sofa bed comprising a `frame embodying rigidly connected endmembersg' a bed bottom comprising a plurality of pivot,-

iso

ally connected sections, one end of said bed bottom being pivotallysecured to said frame between said end members, said bed bottom beingadapted, when not in use, to be folded to position between said endmembers; and a sofa back member' and a sofa seat member connected withthe outer section of said bed bottom and supported in operativepositions bv said bed bottom when in folded condition, and adapted, whensaid bed bottom is extended, to be carried thereby to positions at theunder side thereof` substantially as described.

2. A sofa bed comprising a frame embodying rigidly connected endmembers; a bed bottom comprising a plurality of pivotally connectedsections. one end of said bed bottom being pivotally secured to saidframe between said end members, said bed bottom being adapted, when notin use, to be folded to position between said members; a sofa backmember; a sofa seat member; and a link connection between said back andseat members and said bed bottom whereby said members will be supportedin operative positions when said bed bottom is in folded oondition andwhereby, when said bed bottom is extended, said members will be carriedthereby to positions at the under sides thereof, substantially asdescribed.

3. A sofa bed comprising a frame embodying rigidly connected endmembers; a bed bottom comprising a plurality of pivotally connectedsections, one end of said bed bottom being` pivotally secured to saidframe between said end members, said bed bottom being adapted, when notin use, to be folded to position between said end members; a sofa backmember supported in operative position by said bed bottom when in foldedcondition and adapted to be carried to a position at the under sidethereof, when said bed bottom is extended; a sofa seat member; a pair oflevers fulcrumed to said frame with the free ends of which said seatmember is pivotally connected; and an operative connection between saidseat member and said bed bottom whereby saidseat member will besupported in operative position, when said bed bottom is in foldedcondition and whereby, when said bed bottom is eX- tended, said seatmember will be rocked to position at the under side thereof,substantially as deseribed.

4. A sofa bed comprising a frame embodying rigidly connected endmembers; a foldable seetional bed bottom; a pivotal connection betweenthe inner end of said bed bottom' and said end members permittingof saidbed bottom to be extended into horizontal position for use and, when notin use, to be folded to position between said end members; a so fa backmember supported in operative position by the outermost of tlle sectionsof said bed bottom, when the latter is in folded condition and adaptedto be carried to a position at the under side of said bed bottom, whenthe latter is extended; a sofa seat member; and an operative connectionbetween said seat member and said outermost section of said bed bottomwhereby -said seat member will be supported in operative position, whensaid bed bottom is in folded condition and whereby, when said bed bottomis extended. said seat member will be rocked to position at the underside thereof, substantially as described.

5. A sofa bed comprising a frame embodying rigidly conneeted endmembers; a bed bottom comprising a plurality of pivotally eonnectedsections: a pivotal connection between the innermost of said sectionsand said end members: a pair of levers pivotally connected atcorresponding ends with said end members and having their opposite endsrigidly connected with the outermost section of said bed bottom, wherebysaid bed bottom may be folded to position between said end members andunfolded into horizontal position extending therefrom; and sofa back andsofa seat members operatively connected with said bed bottom whereby thesame will be supported in operative position, when said bed bottom is infolded condition, and whereby, when said bed bottom is eX- tended, saidsofa back and seat members will be moved to positions at the under sidethereof, substantially as described.

G. A sofa bed comprising a frame; a sectional foldable bottom pivotallyconnected with said frame so as to permit of folding of said bed bottomto extend horizontally from said trame; a pair of levers pivotally connected at coriesponding ends with said frame and haring their oppositeends rigid'l; connected with the outermost section of said bed bottom,whereby, upon forward rocking of the free ends of said levers, said bedbottom will be unfolded into horizontal position extending from said endmembers, and. upon rearward rocking of said ends of said levers` saidbed bottom will be collapsedV and folded to position between said endmembers; a pair of legs rigidly connected with said outermost bed bottomsection for supporting` the same in operative position when the latter'is extended; a sofa back member carried by said outermost section ofsaid bed bottom and supported thereby in operative position when saidbed bottom in folded condition, and carried to a position below said bedbottom section,

when said bed bottom is unfolded; l'aswift(` scat member; a pair of armspivotallyand movably connected with said supporting legs for moving said"seat member to operative position when said bed bottom is folded andfor carrying` said member to position below said bed bottom when thelatter is unfolded; and a second pair of levers pivotally secured insaid frame and having their free ends connected with said armsfor-coperati0n therewith in moving said seat member, substantially asdescribed.

7. A sofa bed comprising a frame; a sectional foldable bottom pivotallyconnected with said frame so as to permit of folding of said bed bottomto extend horizontally from said frame; a pair of levers pivotallyconnected at corresponding ends with said frame and having theiropposite ends rig- .idly connected with the outermost section of saidbed bottom, whereby, upon forward rocking of the free ends of saidlevers, said bed bottom will be unfolded into horizontal positionextending from said end members, and, upon rearward rocking of said endsof said levers, said bed bottom will be collapsed and carried toposition between s'aid end members; a pair of legs rigidly connectedwith said outermost bed bottom section for supporting the same inoperative position when the latter is extended; a sofa back membercarried by said outermost section of said bed bottom and supportedthereby in operative position when said bed bottom is in foldedcondition, and carried to a position below said bed bottom section, whensaid bed bottom is unfolded; a sofa seat member; a pair of arms; a pairof links pivotally and movably connecting each of said arms with saidsupporting legs for moving-said seat mei'nber to operative position whensaid bed bottom is folded and for carrying said seat member to positionbelow said bed bottom when the latter is unfolded; and a second pair oflevers pivotally secured in said frame and having theirfree endsconnected with said arms for cooperationl therewith in moving said seatmember, substantially as described.

8. A sofa bed comprising a frame embodying rigidly connected endmembers; a bed bottom comprising a plurality of pivotally connectedsections, the inner end of said bed bottom being pivotally secured tosaid frame between said end members, said bed bottom being adapted. whennot in use, to be folded to position between said end members; a sofaback member supported in operative position by said bed bottom, when infolded condition, and adapted, when said bed bottom is extended, to becarried thereby to position at the under side thereof; foldable legs forsupporting the outer end of said bed bottom when the latter is extended;and an operative connection between said back member and said legswhereby said legs will be automatically unfolded, when said back memberis carried by said bed bottom to position at the under side thereof` andwhereby said legs will he automatically folded, when said back member iscarried by said bed bottom to operative position, substantially asdescribed.

9. A sofa bed comprising a frame; a foldable sectional bed bottom havingits inner end pivotally connected with said frame; a sofa back membermovably supported in operative position by said bed bottom when infolded condition. and adapted, when said bed bottom is extended, to becarried thereby to position at the under sidethereof; means for movingsaid back member relative to said bed bottom in the folding andunfolding operation of the latter; foldable legs for supporting theouter end of said bed bottom when the latter is extended; and means forautomatically unfoldin of said legs when said bed bottom is unfo ded,and folding of said legs when said bed bottom is folded, substantiallyas described.

10. A sofa bed comprising a frame; a

foldable sectional bed bottom having one l end pivotally connected withsaid frame so as to permit of folding of said bed bottom to position insaid frame or unfoldin of said bed bottom to extend horizontally romsaid frame; a mwable transversely extending piece adapted to normallyclose an opening at the front side of said frame; and an operativeconnection between said ieee and said bed bottom whereby, when sai bedbottom is in folded condition, said piece will be supported in operativeposition to travg5 erse said opening and, when said bed bottom isunfolded, said piece will be moved to non-traversing position,substantially as described.

11. A sofa bed com rising a frame; a 10o foldable sectional bed ttbmhaving one end pivotally connected with said frame so as to permit offolding of said bed bottom to position in said frame or unfolding ofsaid bed bottom to extend horizontally from said frame; a movabletransversely extending piece adapted to normally close an opening at thefront side of said frame; a bell crank lever supporting said piece; andan operative connection between said bell crank 1.20

lever and said bed bottom, whereby, when said bed bottom is in foldedcondition said piece will be supported in operative position to traversesaid opening, and when said bed bottom is unfolded, said bell cranklever will be rocked to carry said piece to nontraversing position,substantially as described.

12. AY sofa bed comprising a frame; a

foldable sectional bed bottom having one end pivotally connected withsaid frame so as to permit of folding of said bed bottom to position insaid frame or unfolding of said bed bottom to extend horizontallyY fromsaid frame; a movable transversely extendsaid bell crank lever with saidbed bottom whereby, when said bed bottom is in folded condition, saidpiece will be supported in operative position to traverse said openingand, when said bed bottom is unfolded, said bell crank lever will berocked to carry said piece to non-traversing position, substantially asdescribed.

18. A sofa bed comprising a frame embodying rigidly connected' endmembers; a bed bottom comprising a plurality of pivotally connectedsections, one end of said bed bottom being pivotally secured to saidframe between said end members, said bed bottom being adapted, when notin use, to be folded to position between said end members; a sofa backmember and a sofa seat member supported in operative positions by saidbed bottom when in folded condition and adapted, when said bed bottom isextended to be carried thereby to positions at the under sides thereof;and means at the upper end of said frame for releasably locking said bedbottom in folded condition, substantially as described.

14. A sofa bed comprising a frame einbodying rigidly connected endmembers; a bed bottom comprising a plurality of pivotally connectedsections, one end of said bed bottom being pivotally secured to saidframe between said end members, said bed bottom being adapted, when notin use, to be folded to position between said end members; a sofa backmember and a sofa seat member supported in operative positions by saidbed bottom when in folded condition the under sides thereof; and apivoted leaf releasable engagement with the outer end of said bedbottom, when the latter is in folded condition, to releasably lock thelatter against unfolding movement, substantially as described.

15. A sofa bed comprising a frame embodying rigidly connected endmembers; a storage receptacle rigidly supported in the lower end of saidframe between said end members; a foldable sectional bed bottom arrangedbetween said end members and having its inner end pivotally connectedwith said frame, permitting of'said bed bottom being folded to positionin said frame or unfolded to extend horizontally therefrom; a sofa seatmember adapted, when in operative position, to rest upon said storagereceptacle; and an operative connection between said bed bottom and saidseat member permitting of upward, rocking of the forward end of saidseat member to permit of access being gained to said receptacle, andwhereby said seat member will be held in operative position upon saidreceptacle when said bed bottom is in folded condition and carried fromits position upon said receptacle to position below said bed bottomresting upon the floor, when said bed bottom is unfolded, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS E. `WEINMANN.

Witnesses:

J osHUA H. Bo'rrs, HELEN F. Lnmrs.

copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents euh, by nddx'euingthe commiuionexot Intenta, Washington, D. C."

